Instagram adds live video and ephemeral messages

The photo sharing app Instagram has just started rolling out two more new functions: live video on InstagramStories and disappearing photos and videos for groups and friends in Instagram Direct.

The first addition is the live video. “It’s easy to go live — just swipe right from feed to open the camera, tap the “Start Live Video” button and start sharing for up to an hour. Your friends may get a notification when you go live so they can tune in,” Instagram wrote on its official blog. During the broadcast, comments and likes are allowed and there is also an option to turn off the comments. Live stories will disappear from the app as soon as the broadcast is over. You will also be able to browse live broadcasts in the Top Live section in Explore.

The other feature launching with the latest app update is the disappearing photos and videos for friends and groups in Instagram Direct. In order to send a photo or a video privately, you need to press the new messaging icon (an arrow) in the top right corner, then choose friends you want to send it to. “Unlike other messages in Direct, these photos and videos disappear from your friends’ inboxes after they have seen them. And you’ll see if they replayed it or took a screenshot,” writes Instagram.

After updating the app, you also will see some icons have changed as have their functions – in the bottom, the button in the middle (camera icon on iOS and a square with a white plus on Android) lets you post photos and videos from your camera roll. In order to make a photo in Instagram or a Boomerang, you now need to use the button on the top left (plus on iOS and camera icon on Android).

The disappearing photos and videos in Instagram Direct are already rolling out globally, while live broadcast in Stories will become available for all over the next few weeks.